BOSTON- Monday, July 29, 2013- Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) Secretary and CEO Richard A. Davey today announced that for the first time all public transportation authorities in the Commonwealth including the MBTA and all 15 Regional Transit Authorities (RTAs) will have their routes and schedules fully accessible on Google Maps.

The MassRIDES Statewide Travel Options Program at MassDOT led the effort, in partnership with Bridgewater State University, to provide assistance to each of the Massachusetts RTAs to compile the necessary data to provide Google Map accessibility.

“Having access to transit routes and schedules through this universally accessible tool enhances everyone’s ability to plan travel throughout the Commonwealth whether it’s for commuting to and from work or for leisure,” said Secretary Davey. “This initiative meets our core mission to serve our customers and supports MassDOT’s mode shift goal to triple the levels of bicycling, walking and transit users throughout the Commonwealth by 2030.”

This effort’s goal is to make all transportation services in Massachusetts available to commuters, visitors and other travelers through Google Maps. An individual can now use Google Maps online or the Google Maps app for Android or iPhone to plan a trip, for example, from the Boston Common to Worcester State College - a task that previously required searching for routes and schedules across multiple websites. The directions can now guide an individual from one transit station to another with detailed walking directions for the initial and final portions of the trip.

Enhanced online transportation resources also support job development agencies and workforce development organizations statewide and assist individuals pursuing employment opportunities.

“We are happy to work in partnership on this effort to make transit routes and schedule data easily available online for travelers – it’s more of a one-stop-shopping option to plan your trip,” said Dr. Beverly Scott, MBTA General Manager and MassDOT Rail & Transit Administrator. “Many of the entities simply do not have the bandwidth to compile and produce the data required for their system to be available through Google Maps. MassDOT’s effort has made this possible.”

The collaboration between MassRIDES and Bridgewater State University includes an on-going effort to maintain accurate information for all of the transportation services throughout the Commonwealth. A number of private inter-city bus companies are also participating to make their routes and schedules available to the public through Google Maps, adding to the value of the resource.

MassRIDES is the Massachusetts statewide travel options program, helping travelers move smarter with information about carpooling, bicycling, walking, public transportation and vanpooling. For more information about MassRIDES, visit the MassRIDES website at www.commute.com, follow MassRIDES on twitter at Twitter.com/MassRIDES, and find it on Facebook at www.facebook.com/massrides.